Letters
Why Profile Nonresident?
I am writing with respect to your cover
story "Four to Watch" (Feb. 1, page 15).
First, I wish to congratulate each of
the four honorees on their tremendous
accomplishments. They, their families and
all of us should be incredibly proud. They
each serve as a tremendous example and
role model to all of us.
I am, however, quite disappointed in
your decision to profile, as one of these
four up-and-coming local leaders, some-
body who does not live here. Several times
over the past months, the Jewish News
has featured articles and editorials dealing
with the issue that Jewish young adults are
moving from our area. Our Federation's
recent population study identified this as
one of the most pressing concerns facing
our community.
Simply put, your decision was ill
advised and counterproductive to this
important issue facing us all.
Didn't you consider that your deci-
sion to include someone who left Detroit
might lead your young readers to ask,
"Why would the Jewish News have to
pick somebody who doesn't live here? Has
Detroit reached the point that when the
Jewish News looks to profile young lead-
ers it has to look to those who have moved,
to people who don't live here anymore?"
Fortunately, I can assure you that this
community is full of passionate, energetic
and talented young Jewish leaders. Every
day, they work to carry on the legacy of
this great Detroit Jewish community. I
have had the pleasure of working with
many of them through my own involve-
ments with Federation, Jewish Family
Service, the synagogues and other Jewish
and non-Jewish charitable organizations.
In the future, when the Detroit Jewish
News profiles young leaders who are
strengthening the community's founda-
tion, I hope that you keep your eye square-
ly focused on those who chose to live in
our Detroit community. I assure you and
your readers that there is a deep enough
talent pool from which to choose.
Lorne B. Gold
Huntington Woods
tsk SLEW
Focus On Local
I would like to applaud each of the four
young adults featured in your cover story
"4 to Watch" (Feb. 1, page 15). However,
I was disappointed to see that one of the
four people that you chose to feature lives
out of state.
I do not mean to diminish the impor-
tance of her accomplishments in any
way, but as a past president of the Jewish
Federation of Metropolitan Detroit's Young
Adult Division, I can say, without hesita-
tion, that through my involvement with
many Jewish agencies in the area I have
met and worked with countless young
adults who are dedicating their heart
and soul to our local community and its
causes.
The recent population study made it
clear that we are having difficulty retain-
ing young adults in the Detroit area and,
as a result, Federation has established a
Migration Committee to address these
concerns. I only think it is appropriate to
highlight the young adults who have cho-
sen to stay here and dedicate their time
and energy to our vast local causes.
Amy Schlussel
Huntington Woods
Interfaith Harmony
The IN editorial "Moments Worth
Recognizing," (Feb. 8, page 27) eloquently
set forth the reasons why Jews and
Muslims of good will can find common
ground and must continue to strive for it.
In recent weeks, Muslims led an inter-
faith condemnation of Holocaust denial
in the Middle East, and Jews condemned
vanc6lism at Muslim holy sites. The edi-
torial sagely recognized that while Jews
and Muslims cannot ignore their differ-
ences over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,
they can and must stand together against
violence aimed at people because of their
religion.
Though many skeptics may remain, as
the editorial noted, interfaith harmony
must be especially acknowledged and not
dismissed out of hand when words of gen-
uine compassion and support come from
leaders such as Dawud Walid, executive
director of the local chapter of the Council
on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR),
who are willing to publicly stand up "for
justice and improving our relationship
with our Jewish brethren." We commend
the Jewish News for showing why Jewish-
Muslim reconciliation remains a worthy
and attainable goal.
One mission of the Jewish Community
Relations Council is to keep lines of corn-
munication open so that when opportuni-
ties such as these present themselves, we
are better positioned to reach out with the
knowledge that every small step we take
together on the same path will ultimately
lead to a stronger and more secure Jewish
community.
Wendy Wagenheim
president
Robert Cohen
executive director
Jewish Community Relations Council
Bloomfield Township
Working It Out
I am a third-generation and two-degree
alumnus of Wayne State University in
Detroit as well as an employee. I have
never felt intimidated as a Jewish person
while on campus.
Management supports my early depar-
tures on Fridays to get home in time for
Shabbos in the winter and days off on the
yomim tovim [holidays].
There are surely members of the univer-
sity community who harbor anti-Jewish
attitudes and would like to see Israel
destroyed, but I believe that they are at the
fringe of their ethnic and religious com-
munities since there are many people who
are Muslim or of Arab descent on campus
who feel otherwise.
It's important, I think, to point out that
there is a minority of Jews on campus who
have negative views of Muslims and Arabs.
Whether the hatred comes from a Jew or
a Muslim, it is extreme behavior and is
wrong.
I don't feel the university supports
hatred toward anyone. Some of its prac-
tices, such as commencement on Shabbos,
may be inconvenient to some, but one
Frank Castronova
Ferndale
Hateful Signs
As a Jewish student at Wayne State
University and a member of Students
for Israel, I was appalled to read the let-
ter by Professors Janet Hankin and Allen
Goodman denying the display of anti-
Israel sentiments on our campus ("Reality
At WSU," Feb. 8, page 6).
One must only walk by the undergradu-
ate library where bold chalking has pro-
claimed "Israel = White Supremacy" and
"Fight Israeli Apartheid" to see such senti-
ments proclaimed.
As a member of Students for Israel, I
have been working along with many oth-
ers to educate our campus about what is
going on in Israel today and how to combat
such hateful sentiment. Such displays on
our campus only prove that hatred of Israel
and the Jews is alive and well in Detroit.
Eva Juni
Students For Israel
Wayne State University
Detroit
Change At WSU
In reference to the letter "Reality At WSU"
(Feb. 8, page 6): I feel we are lucky to have
four excellent medical schools and many
fine law schools in this state. Over the last
30 years, I have seen a definite anti-Israel
and anti-Semitism change at Wayne State
University in Detroit.
Dr. Martin Daitch
West Bloomfield
More letters on page 8
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We prefer letters relating to IN articles. We reserve the right to edit or
'cha Don't Know
Which city within the Arctic Circle has more than 3,000 Jews, making it
the northernmost Jewish community in the world?
—Goldfein
e!ssnei 'Nsuewinvi :Janksuy
C)Copyright 2007, Jewish Renaissance Media
6
should note that many public universities
with larger Jewish populations than Wayne
have events on Saturdays.
A letter writer wrote: "No more
should Jews blindly support Wayne State
University until it begins to redress the
unacceptable anti-Semitic and anti-Israel
hatreds"("Anti-Israel Bias At WSU' Feb.
1, page 6). Blind support of any kind is
bad, whether it's support of a university,
Muslim support of Palestine or Jewish
support of Israel. Questioning opens
dialogue. Fundamentalist attitudes build
walls.
February 15 p 2007
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